https://www.altgalley.com/blogs/news.atomALTGALLEY - Latest News2018-05-08T08:23:00-04:00ALTGALLEYhttps://www.altgalley.com/blogs/news/7-benefits-of-eating-with-chopsticks2018-05-08T08:23:00-04:002018-05-08T23:32:48-04:007 Benefits Of Eating With ChopsticksNikola PetrovicMastering the skill of eating with chopsticks is not an easy feat. But before you give up, you should know that these traditional Western eating utensils have many cool benefits. Here's why you'll want to ditch your spoon, fork and knife forever and use only chopsticks from now on.

Mastering the skill of eating with chopsticks is not an easy feat. But before you give up, you should know that these traditional Western eating utensils have many cool benefits.

Here's why you'll want to ditch your spoon, fork and knife forever and use only chopsticks from now on.

1. It's Healthier

The most important benefit of chopsticks is that it improves your health.

No matter how skilled you are in using chopsticks, they will force you to eat slower and take smaller bites. This will lead to a slower digestion which helps prevent chronic diseases like type two diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and obesity.

Regular eating utensils make it easy to overeat because we bolt on our food so fast without giving our brains time to process that we're already full.

Chopsticks, on the other hand, help us pace ourselves with our meals. We eat smaller bites more slowly, giving our body the time to process the food and realize when we've had enough.

It Helps You Improve Coordination

Even though navigating chopsticks may seem like a hassle at first, it's actually a really useful exercise for your brain and body. Using chopsticks forces your brain to work thus improving your coordination.

This can be especially beneficial for kids whose brains are still growing and developing. And it's also great for keeping your brain young, just like solving crossword puzzles.

It's Perfect For Asian Cuisine

Chopsticks have a long and fascinating history and are an important part of Asian tradition. In some Asian cultures, they have completely replaced all other eating utensils, simply because they are ideal for eating bite-sized Asian cuisine.

They are perfect for picking up small pieces of meat and vegetables which are the basis of Eastern cuisine, as well as clumpy, long-grain rice that's indispensable in Asian diet.

There Are No Annoying Sounds

When eating with metal utensils, we have to put up with annoying screeches when the utensils touch the ceramic plates and bowls. Chopsticks are mostly made from wood and bamboo and designed not to make any sound touching the plates.

When it comes to Gravity Chopsticks, their design goes one step further. Since they're thicker at the top and slimmer at the bottom, you can freely put them down on the table without worrying their tips will touch the surface, get disinfected or make a stain on the table.

They Are Eco-Friendly

Chopsticks help you live greener because they are made from eco-friendly materials. Those made from stronger materials such as Gravity Chopsticks (crafted with carbon fiber, resin and fiberglass) can be re-used and last for years. And disposable chopsticks are usually made from bamboo that is completely biodegradable.

7. Furthermore, they are super easy to clean, store and re-use.

Now that you know all the incredible benefits of chopsticks, are you ready to replace all your other table utensils?

Turn every meal into a luxurious and healthy experience with the elegant Gravity Chopsticks made to last.

Eating with chopsticks has now become a fashionable thing among many of us in the Western countries. And we've learned to use this 5000-year old cutlery quite well. But while ably using chopsticks to eat the delicious Pad Thai, most of us are unknowingly sending table manners to hell.

Eating with chopsticks has now become a fashionable thing among many of us in the Western countries. And we've learned to use this 5000-year old cutlery quite well. But while ably using chopsticks to eat the delicious Pad Thai, most of us are unknowingly sending table manners to hell.

How? It's because the majority of us didn't learn about the elaborate table manners, etiquette, customs and the rich history that goes when eating with these simple and elegant utensils.

So, let's see how we can get it right the next time we head off for a meal in China Town.

Respect

In the East, food and the practice of eating are as close to religion as it can get. So, be respectful towards your food and cutlery. Do not use chopsticks to wave at someone, push the bowl or plates or bang them like drumsticks, which many do while waiting for their food in restaurants.

One of the primary chopstick etiquette rules is to allow the eldest or highest ranked person at the table to pick up their chopsticks first before you touch yours. If you are the guest of honor, that person will be you, so don't keep them waiting.

Things You Must Not Do

It's wise not to poke food with the tips of your chopsticks as we do with forks. Stabbing food with chopsticks might be okay if you're dining in an informal manner but not recommended when meeting your future father-in-law for the first time.

Next, you should never stick chopsticks upright in your food, like in rice or noodles. It's unacceptable. This how a bowl of rice is offered to the spirit of a dead person.

Make sure not leave your chopsticks crossed anywhere – plate, bowl or table. You wouldn't do it with a knife and fork, so why with Asian cutlery? The sight of crossed chopsticks will make any Asian cringe.

DO NOT pass food directly from one chopstick to another. Again, this is reminiscent of the Buddhist funeral ritual and should not be brought to a dinner table.

Also, be careful not to use two pairs of chopsticks (used by two people) to pick up one piece of food.

Get to know your chopsticks and make sure you never use the 'serving chopsticks' for eating.

Things You Should Practice

When using chopsticks, try and make sure your palm is facing downwards towards the table (as much as possible) even at an angle. This is a Chinese etiquette and showing your palm is considered unrefined. Even if you can't do it properly, the effort will be appreciated.

Once finished eating, place your chopsticks neatly on the chopstick rest. If a rest is not available, you can try to make one using the paper that it came in. Or, you can also place them sideways across the bowl or plate.

It's a must that you place your chopsticks in a right-to-left direction with the tips pointing towards your left.

Always try and use both chopsticks at once even if you only need one for stirring.

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https://www.altgalley.com/blogs/news/the-fascinating-history-of-chopsticks2018-03-06T08:21:00-05:002018-05-08T23:25:58-04:00The Fascinating History Of ChopsticksNikola Petrovic Historians believe that chopsticks have been around for some 5,000 years. However, the first chopsticks made of bronze were discovered in China, in the tombs of Ruins of Yin, dating back to 1200 B.C. Before they became the irreplaceable table utensils they are today, they had to earn their spot in the Asian kitchen.

At first, chopsticks were used only for cooking. They were an ideal cooking utensil since they could easily be dipped into boiling water and hot oil. Chinese still primarily used spoons for eating as their most common meals were porridge, gruel and stew.

But then something happened that would change the Asian cuisine forever.

Around 400 A.D. a huge population boom happened in China, forcing families to start cutting costs on food and cooking fuel. Cooks started chopping food into smaller pieces that could be cooked faster and portioned more easily.

Chopsticks and bite-sized meals seemed to be the perfect match. Not only were chopsticks handy but also easily crafted from cheap materials. And so it began, they became the primary table utensil, completely eliminating the use of knives.

Since he was a vegetarian, he was strictly against using knives at the table as they reminded him of slaughter and violence. He strongly believed that happiness and contentment should be the prevalent mood at the table. That's why he was a big fan of chopsticks.

Confucius' pacifist philosophy is probably also the reason Chinese traditional chopsticks are blunt instead of pointy at the end.

As the centuries went by, Asian cuisine kept the popular bite-size format and chopsticks became an indispensable part of every meal on the Eastern part of the continent, spreading to Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Cambodia, Thailand and many other smaller countries.

Namely, the richest people in Asia such as royal families and nobility had the privilege of eating with silver chopsticks. These were not just appreciated for their value. People believed that silver would turn black if it comes in contact with poisonous food, in which case the chopsticks could even save their life.

The history of chopsticks tells us a lot about the rich history of the Asian culture, so make sure to honor that tradition next time you're enjoying the delicacies of Asian cuisine with your own premium set of chopsticks.]]>